Cost Of Diabetes Treatment To Exceed N1m By 2030, Says Health Minister Ali Pate
...SSBs-Induced Cardiovascular Diseases Explode By 150% In Nigeria, Experts Warn
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate has declared that the cost of treating diabetes, classified as a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) will increase to over N1 million per person by the year 2030 due to sustained consumption of sugary drinks.
Speaking yesterday at the National Conference on Sugar–Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax in Abuja, the minister lamented that the cost of treating diabetes had continued to increase from an average of N60,000 per person in 2011 to N800,000 in 2021 and it is projected to exceed N1,000,000 by 2030.
His words: “The consumption of SSBs has been linked to numerous health risks, including obesity, heart disease, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay, cavities and gout.
“The health burden of SSBs consumption is particularly significant in low-and middle-income countries, where rates of obesity and related health problems are on the rise. In Nigeria, we face a growing health crisis with SSB-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The associated healthcare costs are escalating at an alarming rate.
“Recent reviews and meta-analyses by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) show that as of 2021, over 3.6 million people are diabetic with 53 percent of citizens undiagnosed and this number is expected to rise to about 5 million by 2030. The cost of treating diabetes per person has surged.”
He explained that the goal of the SSBs tax is to reduce the consumption of unhealthy beverages, ultimately preventing obesity and its related diseases.
“In 2021, Nigeria joined over 100 countries that have introduced taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages. This tax, embedded in the Finance Act of 2021, levies a ₦10 tax on each litre of all non-alcoholic, sweetened and carbonated drinks.
“As we look to the future, we must view the SSB tax as a cornerstone of our strategy to improve public health and healthcare financing. By discouraging the consumption of sugar-laden beverages, we aim to reduce the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and in turn, alleviate the financial burden on our healthcare system.
“This tax serves as a deterrent and generates essential revenue that can be reinvested into healthcare initiatives, particularly preventive measures and the treatment of non-communicable diseases,” he stated.
Also speaking, Director of Food and Drug Services at the Ministry, Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana, said the theme of the national conference: Health Tax as a Recipe for Improved Healthcare Financing, highlights the critical role of health tax in enhancing public health and supporting the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“The implementation of the SSB tax marks a significant milestone in our efforts to curb the rising tide of non-communicable diseases, particularly those linked to excessive sugar consumption.
“This gathering is not only to discuss the past and present impacts of SSBs, but also to chart a course for the future. We must strive to create an environment where healthy dietary choices are the norm, supported by effective policies and robust health systems.
“Healthy diets are crucial for promoting health, supporting active lifestyles, and preventing diseases, including both communicable and non-communicable ones. The National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan, 2023 prioritizes the consumption of healthy foods, ensuring that we foster a health-conscious culture that benefits all Nigerians.
In his welcome remarks, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, alerted to the fact that Nigeria currently faces a public health crisis.
In his words: “Public health in Nigeria is under siege as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) surge at an alarming and unprecedented rate. Everywhere you turn there is a Nigerian battling obesity, diabetes, hypertension, stroke or heart disease.
“In fact, any discerning person will readily acknowledge the increasing incidents of people slumping and dying across the country. These are conditions that were once described as “Oyibo sickness” and are uncommon.
“Today, NCDs account for 29 percent of all deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) alone responsible for 11 percent of these fatalities. Health experts report that in the past 20 years, cases of cardiovascular diseases have exploded by 150 percent in Nigeria. Yet we know this is no accident. This surge is directly tied to unhealthy lifestyles including the over consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods.
“SSBs, in particular, popularly known as soft drinks offer no nutritional value but have taken over our food shelves. This is not because we asked for it, but because the industry and big food corporations have chosen to prioritise profit over public health, exploiting loopholes in our food policies and regulations to push their products, evade accountability and determine our health outcomes.”
Oluwafemi pointed out that the consequences of the abnormality are not just countless Nigerians suffering from nutrition-related diseases, but families are also faced with the burden of soaring out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, especially in these hard economic times.
